Reactive Arthritis eMedicine Emergency

Description: In 1916, Hans Reiter described the classic triad of arthritis, nongonococcal urethritis, and conjunctivitis.
What used to be known as Reiter syndrome is now referred to as reactive arthritis (ReA). This change has occurred in part because of Hans Reiter's affiliation and activities with the Nazis during WWII.
Reactive arthritis refers to acute nonpurulent arthritis complicating an infection elsewhere in the body.
Reactive arthritis falls under the rheumatic disease category of seronegative spondyloarthropathies, which includes ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, the arthropathy of associated inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile chronic arthritis.
Thomas Scoggins, MD & Igor Boyarsky, DO 2007